Tape dispensing machine



Aug. 8, 1950 2,518,069

W. F. ROPER TAPE DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21 1947 27 INVENTR Murat [0PM BY ca uw ATTORN EYS Patented Aug. 8, 1950 TAPE DISPENSING MACHINE Walter F. Roper, Longmeadow, Mass.

Application January 21, 1947, Serial No. 723,294

Claims.

This invention relates to machines for dispensing adhesive tape in strip form and more particularly pressure sensitive tape which is drawn off a supply roll at a desired length and then severed.

An object of the invention is to provide a movable cutter and operating means arranged so that the hand of the operator in withdrawing the tape to a predetermined measured length, may be employed in the same motion to sever the tape, thus leaving the other hand of the operator free for the manipulation of the article which is to be taped.

A further object is to provide severing means for the tape which leaves a cut off end of the tape projectin from machine in such manner that it may be easily grasped by the operator for the next stroke of tape withdrawal.

The construction of the machine is of simple rugged and inxpensive character, and the moving parts are housed in a casing which provides a holder for the roll of tape and also serves as a guard for the cutting mechanism when not in use. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the casing or main frame of the machine showing the interior moving parts thereof in side elevation. In this view the cutter is in its uppermost rest position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cutter in its lowermost position after the completion of a cut through the extended strip of tape;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom detail plan of the front portion of the cutter frame;

Fig. 5 is a detail section of the cutter frame along line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a front end view of the cutter frame in a slightly modified form so as to be adapted for the use of a conventional razor'blade as the cutting element thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the main frame indicated at l is formed as a casing or housingfor the machine, and comprises side walls 4 and 5 joined by transverse base webs 2 and 2 and an upper overhanging hood portion 3. As will become apparent, the operation of the machine in withdrawing and cutting off a length of tape is designed to be effected single handedly, and a frame or casing of the machine is preferably heavy enough to remain in position, without the use of the operators other hand.

. frame at fulcrum pins l3.

The frame provides a holder for the supply roll of tape R by having each of the side walls 4 and 5 of said frame formed with a slotted seat such as at 6 within which the core shaft 1 of the supply roll is received in the usual manner. A table portion or platen 8 having a horizontal fiat upper surface extends transversely of the frame between the side walls 4 and 5, and is located somewhat in advance of the periphery of the supply roll R, whereby the strip of tape indicated at T when drawn off the supply roll may be temporarily adhered to the upper surface of said platen, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. In

these figures I have shown in dotted lines and indicated at F and F the thumb and index finger of an operator grasping the forward end of the tape in withdrawing the same over said platen 8. It will be understood that the pressure sensitive tape will be caused to adhere to the platen 8 when brought to rest, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it will have no tendency to wind backwards onto the supply roll R after a length has been once withdrawn and located on said platen 8. In drawing out the tape to the position shown in Fig. 2, the fingers F, F will first lift the tape off the platen 8 and then pull it forward to the length desired. Upon depression of fingers F, F to the position in Fig. 2, the tape T will again stick to the platen 8 as shown. I In the preferable form of my machine, the drawn out tape is severed by the movable cutter blade 9 without the use of the ordinary coacting cutter bar. The single blade 9 will chop through the tape when the latter is held taut between the platen 8 and fingers of the operator as shown in Fig. 2. The transverse cut through the tape is made at a substantial distance in front of the platen 8 and the front portion ID of the main frame I is contoured so as to leave an unobstructed free space or clearance in front of the platen 8 and below the cutter 9 when the latter is in its cutting position, as shown in said Fig. 2. The purpose of this arrangement is so that when the cut is completed and the cutter. 9 is withdrawn to its rest position, as shown in Fig. l, the'tape strip struck down on platen 8 will have a protruding end extending in front of the platen 8 and above the clearance at H), in position to be grasped between thumb and forefinger for the next withdrawal, as shown in said Fig. 1. The cutter blade 9 is mounted on the front end ll of a cutter frame having spaced parallel side arms l2 pivotally mounted on the main The rear end of said cutter frame I2 is pivotally connected by link l4 to a bell crank 15, said latter member being pivoted at the shaft 16 to the main frame. The bell crank i5 is formed with an integral forwardly extending lever arm I! which is adapted to be engaged by the operators fingers and depressed for swinging the forward end of the cutter frame downwardly as will be apparent from the connections described. The lever I1 is positioned centrally of the main frame and is adapted to work up and down in a centrally located slot I provided in the front contoured wall it as shown in Fig. 3. A return spring 18 is connected at the pivot pin [9 at the lower end of the bell crank l and also to an anchorage 20 on the main frame, as shown, which spring normally tends to hold the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. An adjustable stop gauge 2! is mounted on the lever arm I! for being slidably adjusted to different positions thereon in measuring the a o n o t n o be t d awn. fo o ihe- Notches 22 in the lever arm and the stud screw 11. th f op gauge 2. ser e to as en the letter an one o its se era ad us ed. Po i ions.

The t r ad 8 is, oe e he y ast e to he n I I of. rame it b u a le lampi bo 2 nd i the lo r u i g d s. blade Q is preferably serrated as shown in Fig. Mo n 0 WW 3 3 e liaeeo o and ot e ear of aid outter de s a i nt P e e me be 2.1 ormed s shared wi a l w th per a eehihe ess 21 an t fas ne be the a oresaid o emoi e o t 35. one 2. he, Pr e membe a ts. new hor z nta nd onsv rsel extende Portion oee e l htl be e' oottihe ge. of h ioiie 9 a lear s ow in F 5-. T e oh i h. h s Pr ser membe is lea y ll st a ed in 2.. en the u t blade 9 s ow re o a sli in o e a on. the h rizont l. o t on 21 t a d g zesser me ber w ll en age, he one n. he n ete 8. gh y hefor the e hs. d e o the bla n a e an. ap r nd. w l. ho d; the ap rm y a a ns he platen. dotin the o tt ns ore t i hz t e ot e n o he ta e being he tautb t e fi ers. of h operator a h wn 1 Ei 2, Also he u er i thdraw war l away rom he anethe ing when o membe 21 will continue to hold the tape against the pla n r a br f. eriod et er he lower d f t knife a ee ra sed a ov he. e el o he, tap n th s manne h pressu member a ts a t ppin means o e e n r n in h a te m fol o hg t e, upward movement f the utter A. r ber. b m i p e erabl c r ied y th end p t on U of. the.

cu er. frame, a sho n i F 2 o. of e ts e urn str ease nst ootl 3..

In the modification, of. the. cutter frame shown in Fig. 6, the front end H thereof is provided with clamping. bolts. 25. and 26 set, slightly at an, an leto the horizontal and. spaced apart for receiving the ordinary conventional razor blade 2 4 in theposition shown. Since this type of blade is not serrated. it is preferable that it be positioned. in aninclineddirection with. respect to the, tape that will be cut thereby. The. presser member. 11, in v this form, of cutter is the same as that, previously described and, as shown has its. lower horizontal. portion slightlybelow the lower cutting edge of said razor blade 24.

1 The operation of the. device may. be. briefly described: as follows, assuming that an end, of. the tape strip has. been pulled from the supply roll R and stuck. down on, the platen 8. as indicated in Fig. 1. The operator first grasps the.

end of the tape and lifts it from the platen 8, and continues to pull thereon until his fingers strike against the stop gauge 2|, as shown in Fig. 2. This will determine the length of tape to be out. Then by a continuation of the same movement the operator depresses the stop gauge 2| and lever I! so as to swing the cutter frame with its cutter down to cutting position as shown in Fig. 2. The desired length of; tape has now been cut off and a new projected tape end has been stuck on the platen 8. As soon as the lever H; is released, spring 18 will restore the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1 ready for the next operation. The clearance space in front of the platen provided by the cut away portion In of the main frame gives room for the operators hand during the downward movement of lever H, in cutting off the tape and also permits the operator to easily grasp the protruding end of h ut a ich exten s. r m aten T e. e t os on o e forwa d y extendedhand lever I] allows the entire operatipn o drawing. out he ne. a d set in it fi o b performed single handedly in one continngus motion which is of great advantage in the rapid taping of packages. The hood portion 3 of the f t- S li 3. a ar 9 h o t 9 hen in rest position as shown in Fig. 1

Whe la m s;

1. In a machine for dispensing adhesive tape in combination, a main frame, means. for supporting a roll of tape therein adapted for manual withdrawal in strip form, a platen located in front ofsaid roll against which the strip of tape is adapted to be adhered when withdrawn from the roll, said frame, being formed with an u n,-. obstructed clearance space in front of said platen whereby the end of a tape strip adhered to said platen may be grasped by the operator for with drawal from the roll, a movable butter for severins id st i s d. oo er e n m nt o to out said tape at a point spaced forward from he d 0 S i P 3 2 1 at n .51. aid cutter comprising a hand lever positioned foreird hdf nt a o a d fram i t n the path ofthe operators hand when withdr'awe ing the tape strip from said roll, whereby said operators hand in so withdrawing the tape strip a in he m t on. eng e and. o era aid eve to. o e s ip a t e. n of s id th-- drawing stroke.

2. Ina machine for dispensing adhesive tape in o h ioh o ma m ,me n or u or n a roll of tape therein adapted for manual with: drawal in strip form, a platen located in front of said roll against which the strip of tape is adapted to be adhered when withdrawn from the roll, said frame being formed with an unobstructed clearance space in front of said platen whereby the end of a tape strip adhered to said platen may be ra p d b e oper o o W dra a ro the roll, a movable cutter for severing said strip, said cutter having its path of cutting movement in the unobstructed space at a substantial dis: tance in frontof said, platen, operating means for said cutter comprisinga hand lever pivoted tothe main. frame and positioned forwardly and cen-. trally of said, frame directlyin the path; of the. operatorshand when Withdrawing the tape strip from theroll, whereby said, operators hand in sowithdrawing the tape strip ma: in the same motion. engage. and operate said lever to cut the strip at theend of said withdrawing stroke.

3-. In a machine for dispensing adhesive tape in o a o e moio m mean orr u po ting a roll of tape therein adapted for manual withdrawal in strip form, a platen located in front of said roll against which the withdrawn strip is adapted to be adhered when withdrawn from the roll, said frame being formed with an unobstructed clearance space in front of said platen, whereby the end of a tape strip adhered to said platen may be grasped by the operator for withdrawal from the roll, means for severing said strip comprising a movable cutter mounted to move to out said tape at a point spaced forward from the end of said platen, a presser member for holding the tape strip against said platen during the cutting action of the cutter, and a hand lever with connections for operating the cutter, said hand lever being pivoted on the frame and positioned forwardly and centrally of said frame directly in the path of the operators hand when withdrawing the tape strip from the roll, so that said operators hand in so withdrawing the tape strip may in the same motion engage and operate said lever to cut the strip at the end of said withdrawing stroke.

4. In a machine for dispensing adhesive tape in combination, a main frame, means for supporting a roll of tape therein adapted for manual withdrawal in strip form, a platen located in front of said roll against which the withdrawn tape strip is adapted to be adhered when withdrawn from the roll, said frame being formed with an unobstructed clearance space in front of said platen whereby the end of a tape strip adhered to said platen may be grasped by the operator for withdrawal from the roll, means for severing said strip comprising a cutter frame pivoted on said main frame, a cutter carried in said frame and mounted to out said tape at a point spaced forward from the end of said platen, a spring acting presser member carried in said frame adjacent said outter and arranged to hold the tape strip against said platen during the cutting action of the cutter, and a hand lever with connections for operating the cutter frame, said hand lever being positioned forwardly and centrally of said main frame and directly in the path of the operators hand when Withdrawing the tape strip from the roll, so that said operators hand in so withdrawing the tape strip may in the same motion engage and operate said lever to cut the strip at the end of said Withdrawing stroke.

5. In a machine for dispensing adhesive tape in combination, a main frame, means for supporting a roll of tape therein adapted for manual withdrawal in strip form, a platen located in front of said roll against which the strip of tape is adapted to be adhered when withdrawn from the roll, said frame being formed with an unobstructed clearance space in front of said platen whereby the'encl of a tape strip adhered to said platen may be grasped by the operator for withdrawal from the roll, means for severing said strip, comprising a cutter frame pivoted on said main frame, a cutter carried in said frame, a spring acting presser member carried in said frame adjacent said cutter and arranged to hold the tape strip against said platen during the cutting action of the cutter, said cutter being carried in the cutter frame so that its cutting action on the strip is in the unobstructed space and at a substantial distance in front of said platen so as to leave a cut end of the strip projecting forwardly from the platen to be grasped for a subsequent withdrawal, and a hand lever with connections for operating the cutter frame, said hand lever being positioned forwardly and centrally of said main frame and directly in the path of the operators hand when withdrawing the tape strip from the roll, so that said operators hand in so withdrawing the tape strip may in the same motion engage and operate said lever to cut the strip at the end of said withdrawing stroke.

WALTER F. ROPER.

. No references cited. 

